INTASC.9
STANDARD: The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.

Specific Category of Standard:
INTASC.9.B K: The teacher is aware of major areas of research on teaching and of resources available for professional learning (e.g. professional literature, colleagues, professional associations, professional development activities)
INTASC.9.D D: The teacher is committed to reflection, assessment, and learning as an ongoing process.


Understanding Sentence:
At this point in my journey, INTASC Standard 9 means that the teacher is consistently reflects on his/her own practices and is aware of resources and opportunities that will encourage professional growth.

Artifacts



Reflect
The artifacts, Plan of Action and Journal Critique, are examples of Standard 9. Both artifacts demonstrate self-reflection and awareness of the benefit of actively seeking outside resources for personal growth. The Plan of Action helped me to recognize at this point in my journey which areas I was prepared, making progress, and 'not quite there'. In addition to that I prepared a 'plan of action' which are steps to better prepare myself to becoming a first year teacher throughout the rest of my internship. These steps include, creating a network of teachers, creating a file of useful resources, actively seeking and subscribing to teaching and scholarly journals, and attending seminars and conferences to stay open minded while continue my personal education as an ongoing processes. The Journal Critique artifact demonstrates my ability to read a scholarly article and critically assess the information it presents. Being aware of the valuable resource a scholarly journal can be and knowing how to access it and utilize its information is an asset to staying current with education trends and concepts.

Project
The artifacts, Plan of Action and Journal Critique, demonstrate the kind of learner I am by showing my willingness to continue my own personal education. I am absorbing so much information in my pre-service classes that will benefit me as I become the teacher I am. But I also understand that education and best practices are constantly shifting and changing. These artifacts demonstrate my initiative and ability to seek outside resources to stay ahead of the curve. Human beings are such creatures of habit, that it takes a conscious effort to stay current. The Plan of Action Artifact will help me get into this habit early on. In my first years of teaching, it will be imparitve to remember that I am not alone and that there are many resources, such as colleagues, mentors, and scholarly writings to help me along my journey.